Officials weren’t testing for nitrates or nutrients, he says
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Steven Guilbeault (Government of Canada photo)
Allegations of federal staff purposely trespassing on a Saskatchewan farm and testing water for nutrients and nitrates related to farm runoff are false, the federal environment minister says.
“Please allow me to be equally frank and public in my response: department officials are not testing water for nitrates or nutrients related to farm runoff, and their study is not related to the non-regulated, voluntary goals of the Government of Canada in an effort to reduce emissions from agricultural fertilizers,” Steven Guilbeault wrote on Aug. 24.
His letter didn’t clarify what exactly the scientists were sampling for.
Federal scientists have conducted water sampling across Canada for more than 50 years, he added.
Guilbeault’s letter, addressed Saskatchewan Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency Jeremy Cockrill, comes after Cockrill posted a public letter to his federal counterpart.
Cockrill’s letter mentioned instances of farmers from Pense, Mossbank and Pilot Butte witnessing federal employees taking water samples for pesticide residues and nitrate levels without permission.
Levi Wood, a farmer from Pense, tweeted a photo of two people and a Government of Canada vehicle near his property.
“Anyone else see a Government of Canada SUV taking water samples from your dugouts? They said they were ‘checking for pesticides,’” he wrote.
Guilbeault’s letter maintains that the scientists were “taking samples alongside a highway in Pense” and that a landowner did inform the scientists they were on private land.
The letter did not mention the alleged incidents in Mossbank or Pilot Butte.
“If a federal scientist inadvertently encroached on private land without permission, this matter can surely be handled in a mature and informed manner,” Guilbeault wrote, adding Environment and Climate Change Canada is reviewing its protocols to ensure they’re consistent with area laws.
Cockrill provided a response to Guilbeault’s letter Wednesday.
The federal minister’s letter tries to negate the seriousness of the situation, he said.
“Today’s response from Minister Guilbeault attempts to invalidate reports by landowners,” Cockrill posted on Twitter. “Producers have valid concerns about the federal (government) coming onto their land and conducting testing on dugouts, which are outside of the federal government’s jurisdiction, without permission.
“This situation could have been avoided if the federal (government) had taken steps to collaborate, communicate concerns and their intentions. However, the recognition by Minister Guilbeault of the need to follow local laws is acknowledged and appreciated.”